Health care advocates in Sacramento said a main impact of the Supreme Court decision upholding the Affordable Care Act is that new protections for patients will be preserved.

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Anthony Wright, executive director of Health Access, said millions of Californians, from children to seniors, will not be denied coverage because of pre-existing medical conditions.

Another change upheld today: Young adults can remain on their parents' insurance until age 26. Access Health estimates that will benefit 355,000 young people.

Losing benefits has been an issue Sandy Adams has anguished about. Her college-age daughter has a seizure disorder, a pre-existing condition, and would require very expensive premiums to obtain a new health policy.

“It was so worrisome to me. I literally ground my teeth at night,” Adams said.

Her daughter will now retain the specialized medical care she receives through her parents' coverage.

“It was an overwhelming sense of relief,” Adams said. “When I heard the news on my car radio I pulled over and just balled.”

As for millions of California residents without medical care, Wright said California has been granted a special waiver to begin expanding care coverage before the new federal law takes effect in 2014.

Access Health reports that counties are already adding tens of thousands of uninsured citizens to state-sponsored low income health plans.

The organization says another 500,000 uninsured will be enrolled in the state program.

Eileen Buxton of Sacramento said the court decision is meaningful.

“I think it’s important that people I know and like, know that they can get health care coverage without having to go to the emergency room,” she said.